Two-axis mounting structure for a telescope

Abstract

The invention contemplates an improved two-axis mount or adapter whereby a telescope may be mounted to a given base structure, for precise polar-axis motion and/or declination-axis motion. This is achieved in a unit-handling structure wherein a single housing provides rugged, wide-based journal support for each of two elongate shafts, orthogonally oriented and at close-clearance offset where their directions cross within the housing. One of these shafts has externally projecting provision for fixedly securing the same to desired base structure, and the other shaft has externally projecting provision for securing the telescope thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. As an article of manufacture, a two-axis telescope mount, comprising a rigid generally rectangular prismatic housing having first and second pairs of opposite side walls, a first-axis shaft journaled in a first pair of said walls and including means external of said housing for fixed-reference mounting of said shaft, a second-axis shaft journaled in a second pair of said walls and including means external of said housing for secure connection to a telescope, said shafts extending within said housing in orthogonally related directions and in close but clearance-offset relation to each other. 
     
     
       2. As an article of manufacture, a two-axis telescope mount, comprising a rigid housing having first and second pairs of opposite side-wall portions, a first-axis shaft journaled in said first pair of side-wall portions and including means external of said housing for fixed-reference mounting of said shaft, a second-axis shaft journaled in the second pair of side-wall portions and including means external of said housing for secure connection to a telescope, said shafts extending within said housing in orthogonally related directions and in close but clearance-offset relation to each other. 
     
     
       3. The article of claim 1 or claim 2, in which the externally extending end of each shaft carries a mounting flange, respectively for fixed-base connection and for telescope-mounting connection. 
     
     
       4. The article of claim 1 or claim 2, in which a separate drive motor is mounted to said housing at the opposite end of and in coupled relation to each shaft. 
     
     
       5. The article of claim 4, in which said other ends of said shafts project externally of said housing and their respective motors are mounted to the exterior of said housing. 
     
     
       6. The article of claim 1 or 2, and including a single balancing counterweight externally carried by said housing and having two degrees of freedom of adjustably securable displacement with respect to said housing. 
     
     
       7. The article of claim 1 or 2, in which said housing mounts an externally projecting rod for adjustable counterweight support, the axis of said rod being oriented to intersect the axis of said first shaft and being perpendicular thereto, said counterweight having a center of gravity that is eccentric to its rod-supported axis and being adjustably rotatable about and displaceable along said rod.